STATE-OWNED CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2596, 2 September 1909, Page 5

STATE-OWNED CABLES.

A‘STARTLING STATEMENT.

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WILL PROBABLY REFUSE SUPPORT.

United Press Association— Copyright (Received September 1, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 1.

The “Times” Toronto correspondent, writing on August 23, states that the “Ottawa Journal,” one of the most sober and responsible of newspapers, alleges that/ through the pressure of /corporate influence and speculative dealing in cable stocks by persons close to the Administration, the Canadian Ministers have determined to projected conference at London, ,and to refuse their support to the movement for a system of public cables around the , Empire. The correspondent remarks: “This, if true, must prove a fatal blow to the whole great project. The reason, I think, is that the Government has no natural sympathy to aid the movement to establish public cables in competition with private systems. It overruled Mr. McCulloch’s policy of purchase.” He adds: “Sir Wilfrid Laurier, at best, is only a passive Imperialist, who believes that the only safe bond of Empire is sentiment, and distrusts all schemes to organise unity. He probably believes that, with naval defence on the anvil, Imperial cables caii wait.”

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